Life Insurance for Expats

Find out about how being an expat could affect your current life insurance policy, and learn how to choose the correct policy

Last updated 20 March 2017

In many cases, if you already have life insurance through a major provider, you may find you don’t have to change a thing except provide the company with an address change - and arrange payments from your existing bank account.

You could already be covered no matter where you live – again, check with your current provider and see what the limitations of your policy happen to be.

Ensure you're covered by your current life insurance policy

It might sound silly, but it is vital to ensure that your life insurance policy covers you in your new location. If you are unsure, you should speak to your provider immediately to establish the facts.

It has been known for expats to not check this and when they passed away, their insurance company refused to pay out because of the country they were living in at the time.

Term insurance

Term insurance is a type of life insurance policy that provides coverage for a certain period of time, or a specified "term" of years. If the insured dies during the time period specified in the policy and the policy is active - or in force - then a death benefit will be paid.

Term insurance is initially much less expensive when compared to permanent life insurance. Unlike most types of permanent insurance, term insurance has no cash value.

There are many different types of term insurance policies available. Many policies offer level premiums for the duration of the policy, such as 10, 20, or 30 years. These are often referred to as "level term" policies.

While premiums for these level term policies remain level for a set number of years, after this time period the premium level can increase, so policy cost should always be considered.

Most term policies can have a built-in privilege to convert to a permanent policy regardless of any changes in the insured's health condition.

Advantages of term insurance

Initial premiums are lower than those of permanent insurance, allowing you to buy more coverage at a younger age, when the need is the greatest.

Good for a specific need that disappears over time, such as a mortgage, children's education costs, or an automobile loan.

Policy proceeds pass to the beneficiary tax-free.

Disadvantages of term insurance

There is no build-up of cash value.

Has a finite term that the policy is in-force.

Premiums rise as you grow older.

Coverage may terminate at the end of the term period or may become too expensive to continue coverage.

Choosing the right life insurance policy

If you don’t currently have a life insurance policy but expect to buy one in the near future, you may wish to consider purchasing a policy from a UK company before you relocate (making sure, of course, that the policy does cover you wherever in the world you live). The reason why this is advisable is due to the fact that insurance companies in the UK may be in a position to provide you with safeguards that aren't necessarily in place in other countries.

This is not to say that there are not perfectly suitable, trustworthy, reputable firms worldwide. If you do decide to buy international life insurance further down the line after you’ve relocated, just make sure you deal with a firm with a good financial standing and sound ownership. An experienced adviser in this field can help you make the right decision.

Request a free consultation with an independent expert

If you are considering life insurance, enter your details using the form and we will arrange for a free, no obligation initial consultation with an independent life insurance expert who will be able to answer any questions.

During your free consultation, the expert will ask questions about your situation and be able to offer a free report which would detail the various options available to you. At no point would you be under any obligation to proceed with anything offered, however you should be able to get peace of mind about ensuring that you eventually choose the right life insurance policy for your situation.

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